Convertible disk plow.



N0. 692.655. v Patented Feb. fl, |902. I

M. T. HANCCK. Y 4 CONVERTIBLE DISK`YP'L0'W. (Aibucmn med 't. 26, 1901.)

3 sheets-sheet l'.

(No Model.) i

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No. 692,655. Patented' Feb. l4, |902.

M. T. HANcocK. CONVERTIBLE DISK PLW.

(Applicaeionmed ont. 26, 190x.)

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

. No. 692,655. Patented Feb. 4, 1902.

' M. T. HANCOCK.

CDNVERTIBLE DISK PLOW (Application led Oct. 26, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(-Ilo Model.)

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON T. HANCOCK, OF SI-IREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

CONVERTIBLE DISK PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,655, dated February4, 1902.

Application filed October 26, 1901. Serial No. 80,125. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, MILTON T. HANCOCK,

a citizen of the United States, residing at4 Improvements in ConvertibleDisk Plows, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in disk plows capable of conversionfrom a single-disk plow into a gang-disk machine carrying aplurality-such as two,three,or moreof plowing-disks, and vice versa.

The invention has for its Yobject to provide a machine of this classhaving novel, simple, and economical construction and accurate andfacile means of conversion from a single to a plurality disk plow,or theconverse, and possessed, furthermore, of novel means and capacities ofinteradj ustment of the diskcarrying beams and the cooperatingappurtenances.

To the ends stated the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction, combination, and arrangement of elements hereinafterdescribed and claimed, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved ploworganized as asingle-disk plow. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig.3 is a top plan view of the plow organized as a gang or plurality diskplow of three disks. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the couplingelement. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of aspacing member, and Fig. 6 isa detail perspective View of a supplemental beam.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral l indicates the tongue of theplow, which by preference is a resilient tongue of the character shownand claimed in my Letters Patent of February 13, 19.00, No. 643,499. Thetongue, however, need not, within the scope of my present inventiombe ofthis character. Adj ustably connected to the tongue,substantially in themanner indicated in said prior patent, is a staggered furrow-wheel 2.

The numeral -3 indicates thepreferred form of coupling element orbracket employed and to which the rear end of the tongue is pivotallyconnected, so that the tongue andthe staggered furrow-Wheel carriedthereby may swing in the proper direction to facilitate the turning ofthe plow. `The coupling-bracket 3 is provided witha web or flange 4, towhich theprimary plow-beam 5, when the machine is adjusted as asingle-disk plow, is connected and to which a supplemental disk-carryingbeam is connected when the machine is arranged as a plurality-disk plow.

`In Fig. l of the drawings the machine is illustrated as a single-diskplow. The beam 5, which I herein term the primary beam,

is constructed of a bent arm or an arm hav-` ing a deflected rear partand the forward end of which is constructed and adapted to fit againstthe coupling-bracket 3 and is provided with means (in the example shown,bolt-holes) coincident to similar means with which said bracket isprovided to receive fastening devices, such as bolts, whereby the beamis rigidly and securely held to the bracket. To assist in the rigidityof the connection of the beam and to prevent possibility of movementthereof, the coupling element, as shown, may be provided with lips 3,which lap over or lie against the beam.

Rearward of the point of connection of the beam with thecoupling-bracket the former is deflected laterally, as shown, ytodispose the ters Patent hereinbefore mentioned. This journal-boxsupports the standard of an ad-v justable scraper, also as in my saidLetters Patent.

disk, so that the staggered caster-wheel, hereinafter referred to, willbe properly positioned to perform its functions.

The reference-numerals 5a 5b indicate supplemental beams (of which anydesired number may be utilized) of substantially similiar The deflectedrearward portion ofv this beam extends considerably beyond the shape,each thereof having a forward portion constructed and adapted to beconnected to the coupling-bracket 3 in the manner described Withreference to the primary beam 5 and having a laterally-deflectedrearward portion for the purpose of disposing the plowing-disk carriedthereby substantially in the IOO line of draft ofthe machine. Thesesupplemental beams each carry plowing-disk 6 and disk scrapers 8 in themanner set forth with reference to the primary beam and disk. As stated,each of the beams in the complement of the machine is so constructedthat it is capable of attachment to the couplingbracket 3, and theirconstruction and form are also such that by the interposition of spacingmembers 9 each of the beams is adapted to be interposed at any place inthe gang of disks of a plurality-disk plow. The functions of the spacingmembers are to serve, first, as a means to which any given supplementaldisk-carrying beam or the primary beam may be connected, the saidspacing elements being provided with lipped flanges, against which theattaching ends of such beams are disposed and detachably butrigidlyconnected by m'eans, for instance, of bolts; secondly, to sospace apart the beams and the disks carried thereby that the disks willassume their proper line in the gang for the accurate accomplishment ofthe plowing operation, and, thirdly, by reason of the detachableconnection between said spacing members and the beams to aifordadjustment in respect of the distance between the disks. In somecharacters of soil where, for instance, the disks are adjusted to cut atwelve-inch furrow it is best that the disks shall be so arranged thatthe cutting action of one shall extend to or intersect the edge of thefurrow cut by the preceding disk, in which event a spacing element ofproper dimensions will be employed. In other characters of ground it ispossible to economize time with a machine of a given number of disks bysetting the disks farther apart by the substitution of a spacing elementof greater dimension, the cutting-line of the disk in this case beingsuch that a slight ridge is left between the furrows, which, however,falls in or breaks off. To permit of the substitution of spacingelements for this purpose of adjustment, itis important that thesupplemental beams utilized in the machine shall be supported by andconnected directly to the spacing elements rather than to each other, asthis enables accomplishment of the adjustment spoken of merely by thesubstitution of spacing elements without the necessity of reforming thebeams or supplying in the complement of the machine beams of variousshapes or dimensions. It is important also that the landside-Wheelaxle-box l0 shall be detachable and capable of being shifted andattached to either of the supplemental beams, so that the land-sideWheel lO may at all times be disposed as nearly as possible in themiddle of the longitudinal extent of the machine to serve as apivot-wheel to facilitate the turning of the machine in a small compass.

XVhen a machine havingasingle disk is employed, the axle-box of theland-side wheel is connected to the beam thereof preferably by the samefastening means which connect the beam to the coupling-block. When athree disk plow, such as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is utilized,it is desirableto shift the land-side wheel rearward to bring it morenearly in the position above indicated, and it is then attached to theintermediate beam 5" by the means which connect said beam to the spacingmember. It may be shifted to different positions, as may be foundnecessary or desirable, according to the number of disks used in themachine.

It will be observed from the drawings that when the disk is adjusted asa single-disk plow the primary beam is utilized, said beam beingprovided with means at its rearward extremity to receive the pivotedstaggered caster-Wheel 1l, the office of which is to assist in theproper support of the beam and guiding of the machine. The primary beamwhen the machine is converted into a plurality-disk or gang-disk plow is.disposed always at the rear, to the end that the attached caster-Wheelmay perform itsstated functions. The said primary beam is, as beforestated, so formed and constructed that it is adapted to be attachedeither to the coupling-bracket or to any spacing member interposedbetween the supplemental beams. The said supplemental beams, as alsohereinbefore stated, are of substantially similar construction andshape, to the end that these beams and the disks carried thereby may beinterposed at any position intermediate the coupling-bracket and primarybeam. The front supplemental beam in the example shown in the drawingsis slightly different in form from other supplemental beams that may beutilized, having a laterallydeiiected intermediate portion 12, to whicha spacing element is connected, and the corresponding spacing elementhas an approximately wedge formation. This form is perhaps preferable tobring the plowing-disks carried by the several beams approximatelydirectly in the line of draft of the machine. Such form of the specifiedsupplementary beam, however, is not essential,as sufficient defiectionmaybe attained at the rearward ends of the beams to which the disks areconnected. All the supplementary beams have substantially the same formand with the primary beam have identically the same form in respect ofthose portions which attach to the coupling-bracket or any interposedspacing member.

Starting with the supporting Wheels, tongue, and easter-wheel-carryingprimary beam, a complete single-disk plow is presented capable ofsimple, rapid, and accurate conversion into a double, triple, or othergang or plurality disk plow by interposing one or more supplementaldiskcarrying beams by reason of the construction of the forward end ofthe primary beam and the several supplemental beams, which enables themnot only to be attached directly to the coupling element to constitute asingle-disk plow, but also to be attached to any interposed supple- IOOIIO

mental beam, the primary beam always constituting the rear orcaster-wheel-carrying beam of a gang or plurality disk plow. As agang-plow thetnumber of disk-carrying beams may be varied, as theyare'each similarly constructed and connect in like manner to the spacingmembers, and they may beinterposed at any place in the gang intermediatethe coupling element and the primary beam.l The plow possesses also thevaluable capacity of substitution of spacing members and shiftability ofland-sidewheel axle-box hereinbefore set forth.

By my invention a disk plow is provided which is not only capable ofconversion from a single to a gang or plurality disk plow, but by anovel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts exemplifiesgreat economy and simplicity.

The coupling element or b racket shown is the one I prefer to use; but Iwish it understood that I do not restrict myself to this particulararrangement of coupling element, as it is only essential within thescope of my invention that there be a coupling part adapted;

to connect with the several beams of themachine. Y

Other changesin detail and arrangement may be made without departingfrom, the scope of my invention as set forth in the following clauses ofthe claim. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. In a convertible disk plow, the combination with a coupling element,of a primary disk-carrying beam provided with a caster- Whe'el, and asupplemental disk carrying beam,the supplemental beam constructedandadapted to detachably connect to the couplingV element and the primarybeam constructed and adapted to detachably connect directly to thecoupling element and also to be connected to the supplemental beam,substantially as' described.

2. In a convertibledisk plow, the combination with a coupling element,of a primary disk-carrying beam provided with a casterwheel andconstructed and adapted to detachably connect directly to said element,and av supplemental disk-carrying beam adapted to be interposed betweenthe primary beam and the coupling element and constructed andT adaptedto be detachabl y attached directlyto said element, said primary beambeing also constructed and adapted to be detachably connected to thesupplemental beam,substan tially as described.

3. In a convertible disk plow, the combination with a coupling element,of primary and supplemental disk carrying beams havingsimilarly-constructed attaching ends, a caster-wheel carriedvby theprimary beam, and means for detachably securing the primary orsupplemental beams to the coupling element or the primary beam to thesupplemental beam when the latter is included in the plow, substantiallyas described. i

4. In a convertible disk plow, the combination withl a coupling element,of primary and supplemental disk carrying beams havingsimilarly-constructed attaching ends, whereby they are adapted to besubstituted one for the other at the coupling element, and means fordetachably incorporating said beams in the plow organization,substantially as described. v

5. In a convertible disk plow, the combination with a coupling element,of detachable primary and supplemental disk carrying beams, havingsimilarly-constructed attaching ends, and a detachable and shiftablelandside wheel adapted to be connected to either of said beams,substantially as described.

6. In a convertible disk plow, the combination with detachable primaryand supplemental disk-carrying beams,having similarly-constructedattaching ends,.a coupling element constructed to connect with either ofsaid beams, and detachable spacing members interposed between the beamsand to which the forward ends of the beams are connected whereby spacingadjustment between the disks is secured, substantially4 as described.1

7. lIn aV convertible disk plow, thecombination with detachable primaryand supplemental disk-carryin g beams,having similarly-con structedattaching ends, a coupling element constructed to connect with either ofsaid beams, detachable spacing members inter ICO posed between the beamsand to which the forward ends o-f the beams are connected, and adetachable and shiftable land-side wheel adapted to be connected toeither -of said beams, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

MILTON T. HANCOCK;

